Gingers hail primarily from the fields and rain forests of Indo-Malaysia. The family name’s (Zingiberacea) origin is from the Greek word "ziniberi", which is believed to have come from an ancient Indian name for ginger. Malaysians call it "inchiver", or root. Hawaiians call it `Awapuhi. Edible ginger root, tumeric and cardomom are also a part of the ginger family.

The plants were introduced to Hawai`i during the past century. The family is made up of about forty-five types and approximately seven hundred species. Their root system spreads and propogates by fat, knobby ground level stems called rhizomes.

Ginger flowers are one of the most versatile and widely used of the tropicals. They can be made into spectacular leis, used to help relieve asthma and stomach ailments and as an ingredient in perfumes. Ancient Hawaiians used the foamy flower heads of the wild ginger as a shampoo and for quenching thirst.